Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

“Long ago, Calbuzz suggested that Meg Whitman made a strategic blunder during the Republican primary when, in an effort to look conservative enough to beat Steve Poizner, she came out swinging against AB 32, California’s pioneering greenhouse-gas reduction law.

“Our point was simple: she had alienated independent and moderate voters who tilt the balance of power in California because, for them, protecting the environment is an important cause.”

Whitman tried to soften her stand, but was it too little too late?

This is a point we’ve raised here as well. We’re in the heart of “Prop. 23 Country” — our freshman “electeds” Tom McClintock and Dan Logue are carrying the baton for it.

But a new poll shows there is a significant correlation between a vote against the measure and a vote for Jerry Brown, as Calbuzz explains.

“Among those opposed to Prop. 23 – the much larger group that would retain the law — 69 percent are for Brown and 25 percent are for Whitman. An opponent of Prop. 23 is nearly three times more likely to vote for Brown than for Whitman.”

Our county certainly will have to share the blame among GOP’ers if Brown prevails. The hard right GOP Central Committee, dominated by McClintock fans, is a big Prop. 23 supporter. CABPRO also supports Prop. 23. Our hard right blogging contingent (also global warming denialists) have been Prop. 23 cheerleaders.

Sometimes you pay a price for failing to compromise. After all, most of us are in the “middle” politically. And as Calbuzz points out, protecting the environment is an important cause. It’s why we choose to live here instead of Texas, Kentucky or Indiana.

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